This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7311161.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Boy, 10, disappears on walk home | Boy, 10, disappears on walk home |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Police have issued an urgent appeal to find a 10-year-old Birmingham boy. | Police have issued an urgent appeal to find a 10-year-old Birmingham boy. |
| Ben Smythe was last seen when he left his friend's home in Riddfield Road, Bromford, about 1900 GMT on Sunday to walk the short distance to his home. | Ben Smythe was last seen when he left his friend's home in Riddfield Road, Bromford, about 1900 GMT on Sunday to walk the short distance to his home. |
| A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said "his family are extremely concerned due to his young age and vulnerability". | |
| Ben, of Bromford Drive, is white, 5ft tall, slim, with short blond hair. He was wearing a long coat with a hood, jeans and a cream and green T-shirt. | Ben, of Bromford Drive, is white, 5ft tall, slim, with short blond hair. He was wearing a long coat with a hood, jeans and a cream and green T-shirt. |
| Police searched the area overnight and the force's helicopter was used in the search. House-to-house inquiries in the area are continuing. | |
| Police are conducting house-to-house inquiries | |
| Ben had been playing football with his friend Simon Kesterton. | |
| "We went to the chip shop and we came back... Ben then walked off," said Simon. | |
| "That was at about 7pm." | |
| The police spokeswoman said it was possible Ben had gone off "of his own accord". | |
| "He was walking back from his friend's house last night and it's a long time for a 10-year-old to be off on their own," she said. | |
| Neighbours told the BBC that Ben and his family were new to the road. | |
| Anyone with information is urged to contact police at Stechford on 0845 113 5000. | Anyone with information is urged to contact police at Stechford on 0845 113 5000. |